by Lydia Holley March 10, 2025
Barely big enough for a baby bee, bluets are now in bloom. Often overlooked, bluets have four petals surrounding a miniature center. Though people may have to look closely to see them, bees, butterflies, and moths appreciate this tiny wildflower with a shape so simple it looks like something a young child might draw.
Members of the Houstonia genus, there are several bluet species. Probably the most commonly seen bluet in Texas is Houstonia pusilla, known sometimes as star violet, though most just call it tiny bluet or small bluet. H. pusilla’s center is darker than its surrounding petals, though there are some species with a white center and some with white or pink petals. Native to the United States, Houstonia pusilla can be found in most of the eastern U.S. states.
In order for bluets to multiply, postpone mowing the lawn until after bluets have set seed. If you are interested in having bluets in a certain section of your garden, seed is available for purchase through several vendors. Their tiny blooms might be too small to make much of a statement in most landscapes, but they would be perfect for a fairy garden. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center states occasionally bluets can become so numerous they “color a field blue.” That would be a beautiful sight to see.
Bluets may be small, but they are versatile, and many will grow in almost any soil type, from sun to shade, and are drought and pest tolerant. A few species of bluet have been described as some of the first plants to return after a fire.
You may need to take a close look to see bluets, but these tiny blue flowers are worth searching for.